Sytrus - The Operator (Oscillator) Module

In FM Synthesis Oscillators are called 'Operators', this is because they can be used to modulate other operators.
The operator modules are central to the Sytrus synthesis engine as this section is used to define the operator shape and pitch. The module supports full articulation section (envelopes and mappings
of volume/pitch/phase, etc.)

Pre-Filter (FL) - Applies a smoothing (low-pass) filter to the shape. This
can reduce potential aliasing artifacts but makes the sound less bright.

Noise (NS) - Mixes 'white' noise with the operator. At maximum it only plays white noise, in the middle its half white noise, half the operator.
This can be useful with plucked mode (which requires rich spectrum) and drum/percussion samples.

Pitch Offset & Multiplier

Here you can set the base pitch of the operator. Position the cursor over
a digit from either display and drag up/down.

Frequency Offset allows you to adjust the
pitch as an absolute offset in Hz.

Frequency Ratio is a multiplication over
the base pitch. The default value is 2. To increase the pitch with an octave,
multiply by 2
(x2, x4, x8, x16, etc). To decrease with an octave divide by 2 (x1, x0.5,
x250, etc).

Misc Settings

Center - A DC offset removal.

Declick - Applies a special filter
to avoid clicks when starting a voice (useful for operators with sharp attack).

B.Limit - Band limits the waveform.

Pluck - Plucked mode turns the operator
into a plucked string simulation unit. The unit basically starts with the original spectrum as set by all harmonics
and modifiers then a gradual "damping" occurs which filters that spectrum to a sine wave with the pitch value of the operator.
For this mode to work it is recommended to start with a spectrum rich operator (if you start with a simple sine there is no audible effect).
The damping amount is controlled via the DAMP articulation target (see articulation below). Note that an operator
in plucked mode can not be frequency modulated (FM) by other operators,so its FM row in the matrix will be disabled while plucked mode is on
(however ring modulation /RM/ is still available).

Phase (PHS) - Sets the initial phase offset for the operator when a voice
is started (or global offset, depends on the next option).

Global - Enable this option to use a "global" phase
for the operator in all voices (i.e. sync the phase between all voices for
the operator).

Volume (VOL) - Sets the operator volume.
The modulation levels in the matrix can not be automated, however this volume
property has the same effect for modulators and can be automated.

You can copy all the settings defining the oscillator and paste them to a
different operator by using the Copy/Paste Oscillator
Settings command in
the Options menu
().
The menu also contains the Reset Oscillator Settings in
case you need to quickly revert all oscillator settings to their default position.

Articulation Section

The articulation section allows you to apply an envelope, LFO, map keys, velocity
or unison mode voices to a set of predefined properties. To see the full list
of envelopes/mapping in the articulation section and their meaning, please
check the envelope editor page.

The filter mode supports the following articulation targets (controlled parameters):

Phase Offset (PHASE) - Sets an offset to
the operator phase (graph bottom = -100% offset, graph top = +100% offset).
If you vary the phase via the LFO articulation unit, the result is a
vibrato effect.

Plucked Damping (DAMP) - This target has
effect only if the plucked strings mode is enabled for the operator. This
envelope/mappings set controls the plucked string dampening amount (graph
bottom = 100% dampening, graph top = no dampening).